I heard about Tally Hall when I was a... freshmen in college? My dad went to medical school with Dr. B, who is in a group practice with Dr. Cantor, Bobby's dad. Dr. B told me Bobby started a band and he couldn't get over the fact that he called it "Tally Hall", the name of our Michigan Disneyland. It was just a lame strip mall with delicious greasy pizza and Marvelous Marvin's in the corner, but as children there was no better place.

What? I went to a show, I loved it, and formally met Bobby and Hawls (very nice people). I wanted a signed CD, so I invited Bob to a mixing session I was doing. He was wearing a black fleece and those torn jeans with experience. We had a long chat and I enjoyed his rapport.

Party is Bora +1.

The Complete Demos he gave me had his signature above his picture, in silver sharpie. I approached J-dawg next, anticipating completion of all the autographs. This was my first proper conversation with him, and we had a long talk about recording the album, and I suggested ways to improve his recording abilities. It was clear that we were cut from the same cloth.

Joe has joined your party!

Andy Witz may have walked up the stairs at that point, where I properly introduced myself. He was very shy and did not join the party. I went to every show of theirs afterward, where I met Zhub after a Live @ Leo's gig, and R-sky and Hutch after a Michigan Union gig (he seemed completely uninterested in me). I don't really remember details, but I think I just obnoxiously offered help at shows, and as a recording engineer.

So umm....what? Josephine asked if I was interested in recording the band's HOT NEW SINGLE, "The Bidding", so I did. They must have decided I wasn't completely incompetent, so we recorded some new demos in a Music School classroom. Or did the Bidding recording come after that? Maybe you should...look that up. That eventually became the Pingry EP? I don't have it so I don't know.

I was axed to help at various blind pig shows, and eventually some random...out-of-state shows. And then they asked me to come on tour with them several times [He went on tour with them as the band's roadie.] Those were fun."